Mattress cover having a compartment wherein bumper padding material can be integrated therein to form a cuddle zone

ABSTRACT

A mattress cover can have a compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment to create a cuddle zone above the covering within an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material. The mattress cover can be provided in the form of a fitted bed sheet. The bumper padding material can be provided in the form of a tube. The compartment can be formed as an overlay material sewn over the mattress covering having at least one open end that can be closed once bumper padding material is inserted into the compartment. End closures can be provided in the form of hook and loop material sewn along at least one of the at least one open end of the overlay material and the mattress covering. The compartment and bumper padding material can be provided to create many shapes formed above the mattress material.

INVENTION PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/540,885, entitled “Mattress Cover Having a Compartment Wherein bumper Padding Material Can Be integrated Therein To Form a Cuddle Zone”, filed Dec. 2, 2021, which is a continuation of provisional patent application No. 63/121,873, entitled “Bumper Crib Sheet”, filed Dec. 5, 2020, and which are both herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments are generally related to bed sheets, and to bumper padding as used in cribs. More particularly, the present embodiments are related to mattress cover such as a fitted bed sheet having a compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated to create a cuddle zone no wider than the shoulder-to-shoulder measurement of up to a six year old child located above the mattress cover within an area defined by the compartment and the integrated bumper padding material near the center of the mattress cover when it is placed over a mattress associated with a crib or children's bed.

BACKGROUND

Children, and in particular infants, like to be cuddled. Cuddling calms infants and children. It is not possible for parents and caregivers to provide continuous cuddling to children. This is especially an issue when a child in laying in a crib or bed because it is not possible for children to feel cuddled within a typical crib or child's bed with or without perimeter padding because the perimeter padding to too wide or too far apart to provide the sensation of “cuddling. An example of perimeter padding used in association with a mattress, but which cannot provide a “cuddling” effect for children is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,977, entitled “safety sheet”, issued to Singh. What is needed is a solution that can provide children a feeling of cuddling and security when laying at rest within a crib or bed.

Infant shoulder width (shoulder edge to shoulder edge) at birth can be about 6 inches wide and can grow to about 8 inches at 12-18 months of age. A six-year-old child's shoulder length (shoulder edge to shoulder edge) can be about 11 inches wide. Dimensions of a typical mattress and inner perimeter start at about 28 inches wide by 52 inches long. Dimension of mattresses on children's twin beds are typically 38 inches wide by 75 inches long.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

It is therefore an aspect of the present embodiments to provide a mattress cover, such as fitted bed sheets, that have a compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment to create a “cuddle zone” up to about 12 inches wide and located above and centered and locate near the middle third of the mattress cover within an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material.

It is another aspect of the embodiments wherein the bumper padding material can be provided in the form of a tube.

It is yet another aspect of the embodiments wherein the compartment can be formed as an overlay material sewn over the mattress covering having at least one openable and closable end that can be closed once bumper padding material is inserted into the compartment.

It is yet another aspect of the embodiments wherein an end closures can be provided in the form of hook and loop material sewn along at least one of the at least one openable and closable end of the overlay material and the mattress covering.

It is another aspect of the embodiments that the compartment and bumper padding material can be provided to create many shapes formed above the mattress material (e.g., a U-shape).

It is another aspect of the embodiments that the compartment and bumper padding material used to create the “cuddle zone” can be provided in addition to mattress perimeter bumper material typically positioned near or at the edge of the mattress as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,977 that was issued to Neeraj Singh.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a mattress cover including compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment to create a cuddle zone above the mattress cover within an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material, in accordance with the embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a bumper padding material that can be integrated into the compartment formed on a mattress cover to create a cuddle zone above the mattress cover within an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material, in accordance with the embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates integration of a bumper padding material into a compartment formed on a mattress cover as shown, in accordance with the embodiments; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of a mattress cover including compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment to create a cuddle zone above the mattress cover within an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material and further shown placed over a mattress, in accordance with the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate one or more embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific example embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in another example embodiment” and variations thereof as utilized herein may or may not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part.

In general, terminology may be understood, at least in part, from usage in context. For example, terms such as “and,” “or,” or “and/or” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend, at least in part, upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as “a,” “an,” or “the”, again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.

The term “at least one” as utilized can mean “one or more”. For example, “at least one widget” may mean the same as “one or more widgets”. Likewise, the term “a plurality of” may refer to “a group of”. For example, “a plurality of widgets” may have the same meaning as “a group of widgets”.

Referring to FIG. 1 , illustrated is a top view 100 of a mattress cover 110 improved in accordance with the present embodiment. The mattress cover 110 is shown with a compartment 111 formed thereon, on a topside of the mattress cover 110. The compartment can be provided using overlay material sewn onto the mattress cover in a U-shape as shown, although it can be appreciated after the present teaching that other shapes (e.g., circle, rectangle) can be provided to accomplish functional objective of the embodiments. It can also be appreciated that the mattress cover 110 can be provided as a fitted bed sheet that can be placed over a mattress 118 (see FIG. 4 ) and held thereon by corners of the mattress cover 110. At least one openable and closable end A and/or B can be provided at ends of the compartment 111. The at least one openable and closable opening can provide access to an inside area of the compartment 111 wherein the bumper padding material (e.g., foam pieces, foam tubing, stuffing material) can be inserted/integrated to create a “cuddle zone” 116. As shown in FIG. 1 , tan infant mattress typically used in a crib is shown with the typical dimensions of 28 inches wide by 52 inches long. The mattress can be divided into three ⅓ sections (left, middle, right lengthwise). The “cuddle zone” 116 is shown located in the middle third area of the mattress 110. The cuddle zone is also shown to be about 6-12 inches wide at its inner area. This matches the shoulder-to-shoulder width of infants (about 6 inches wide) and up to a six-year-old child (about 12 inches wide). These dimensions are important because this is how an infant or child will effectively feel “cuddled”, which is a sensation that typical perimeter padding 119 typically used within cribs cannot accomplish given its placement along the edges of the mattress (typically against the crib rail structure). When used together, however, the cuddle zone 116 formed by the compartment 110 and padding material 115 together with perimeter padding 119 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,977 provide safety and comfort to infants and children within a crib or child's bed.

Referring to FIG. 2 , illustrated is a top view 120 of a bumper padding material 115 that can be integrated into the compartment 111 formed on a mattress cover 110 to create a cuddle zone 116 above the mattress cover 110. The cuddle zone 116 is an area defined by the compartment and integrated bumper padding material 115, in accordance with the embodiments. The bumper padding material 115 can be integrated into the compartment 111 through the at least one openable and closable end A or B. Once the bumper padding material 115 is placed into the compartment 111, then the at least one openable and closable end A/B can be secured by end closures 112/113 that can be provided in the form of hook and loop material sewn along at least one of the at least one openable and closable end A/B of the compartment 111 overlay material and the mattress covering 110.

Referring to FIG. 3 , illustrated is a top view 130 of the mattress cover 110 and bumper padding material 115. Arrow 117 illustrates integration of a bumper padding material 115 into a compartment 111 formed on a mattress cover 110 in order to create the cuddle zone 116, in accordance with the embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4 , illustrated is a side perspective view 140 of the mattress cover 11 including the compartment 111 formed thereon wherein the bumper padding material 115 can be integrated into the compartment 111 to create a cuddle zone 116 above the mattress cover 110 within an area defined by the compartment 111 and integrated bumper padding material 115, in accordance with the embodiments. The mattress cover 110 is further shown placed over a mattress 118.

The mattress cover 110 can be provided in a rectangular 75″×50″ fabric cut and sewn to create a universal fitted crib sheet that can go over any crib or toddler mattress. Once sheet is created, a separate U-shape overlay can be created (although shapes can vary so long as a cuddle zone 116 can be created) and sewn over the fitted crib sheet leaving both ends opened creating a U-shaped pocket along the top of sheet. Separately the bumper padding material can be provided in the form of a tube and can be created by sewing two long 15″×100″ fabrics together and filled with cotton filling. The tube can then be inserted into the U-shaped compartment 111 through the openable and closable opening(s), where the tube can then be secured therein by hook and loop material that can close the openable and closable end(s). The tube can be removed for mattress cover laundering purposes.

The inserted tube allows baby or toddler to sleep in place feeling cuddled and protected in crib or toddler bed without feeling restricted in one place. The soft bumper also can also allow a child to roll over and freely move if the child needs to move their body position while sleeping, or to get up while awake.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1. A mattress cover, comprising a fitted bed sheet for an infants or toddlers bed, the mattress cover including an overlay material sewn on the fitted bed sheet near the middle third of the fitted bed sheet, said overlay material having a compartment formed thereon wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment to create a cuddle zone above the mattress cover within an area up to twelve inches wide that is defined by the compartment and the integrated bumper padding material.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the overlay material sewn over the mattress covering has at least one open and closable end.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the at least one open and closable end is adapted to receive bumper padding material.
 4. The invention of claim 2, wherein the at least one open and closable end includes hook and loop material adapted to open the close and at least one open and closable end.
 5. The invention of claim 4, the at least one open and closable end is adapted to receive bumper padding material and to be closed with the hook and loop material when the bumper padding material is contained within the overlay material representing the compartment.
 6. The invention of claim 2, wherein the two open and closable ends include hook and loop material adapted to close the open and closable ends and wherein the two open and closable ends are adapted to receive bumper padding material and to be closed with the hook and loop material when the bumper padding material is contained within the overlay material representing the compartment.
 7. The invention of claim 6, wherein the compartment is provided in a U-shaped form to create the cuddle zone.
 7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the compartment is provided in a U-shaped form to create the cuddle zone.
 8. The invention of claim 7, wherein the overlay material sewn over the mattress covering has at least one open and closable end.
 9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the at least one openable and closable end includes hook and loop material adapted to close the open and at least one openable and closable end and wherein the at least one openable and closable end is adapted to receive bumper padding material and to be closed with the hook and loop material when the bumper padding material is contained within the overlay material representing the compartment.
 10. A mattress covering, comprising: a mattress cover; and a compartment formed on the middle third of a mattress cover by an overlay material sewn over the mattress cover, said compartment having at least one open and closable end adapted to receive bumper padding material, wherein bumper padding material can be integrated into the compartment at the at least one open and closable end to create a cuddle zone with an area up to 12 inches wide above the mattress covering within an area defined by the compartment.
 11. The invention of claim 10, further comprising bumper padding material integrable into the compartment formed on the mattress cover.
 12. The invention of claim 10, wherein the mattress cover is provided in the form of a fitted bed sheet.
 13. The invention of claim 10, wherein the at least one open and closable end includes hook and loop material adapted to open and close the at least one open and closable end.
 14. The invention of claim 10, wherein the compartment can be provided in a U-shaped form to create the cuddle zone.
 15. The invention of claim 12, wherein the compartment can be provided in a U-shaped form to create the cuddle zone.
 16. The invention of claim 13, wherein the compartment can be provided in a U-shaped form to create the cuddle zone.
 17. The invention of claim 12, wherein the at least one open and closable end includes hook and loop material adapted to open and close the at least one open and closable end.
 18. A mattress covering, comprising: a mattress cover provided in the form of a fitted bed sheet; a compartment sewn onto the middle third area of the mattress cover in a U-shape by an overlay material sewn over the mattress cover, said compartment having two open and closable ends adapted to receive bumper padding material, wherein bumper padding can be integrated into the compartment in at least one of the two open and closable ends to create a cuddle zone of up to twelve inches wide above the mattress covering within an area defined by the compartment within the U-shape; and hook and loop material included at the two open and closable ends adapted to open and close the two open and closable ends.
 19. The invention of claim 18, further comprising bumper padding material integrable into the compartment formed on the mattress cover. 